Celebrating National Librarians Day, Shillong College Central Library and the college’s Internal Quality Assurance Cell organised an hour-long national webinar on “Reinventing and Redefining Library Spaces in the Digital Era” yesterday.
This year the event marks the 129th birth anniversary celebrations of Dr SR Ranganathan, in whose honour the day is named. The focus of the talk was on rethinking and reinventing library spaces.
Shillong College principal Eva Kharkongor in her brief speech made a mention of advancements in technological innovations, which has made possible access to libraries across the globe and how libraries need to work in tandem with the New Education Policy.
Vikram Kumar Sharma, the university librarian at Assam University and who has 27 years’ experience, was the resource person on the occasion.
In his 40-minute presentation, he stressed on the need for making the library a dynamic, happening space.
“Libraries could play a major role using technological advancements. Libraries could be converted into social, cultural hub space in the campus. It is about turning the threat to an opportunity,” he said.
Academic libraries are facing various challenges that need to be addressed for improving the services and worth, he elaborated. He also highlighted the key changes that need to be made in the library services and spaces which can contribute towards making these libraries remain relevant in the present digital era. He gave an insight into the methods and platforms which could provide and engage the academic libraries in more meaningful ways with its clientele and its surroundings and convergence from mere places to spaces, which are social, dynamic, connected and collaborative in the backdrop of the IT era.
